John Burgess is an American author and journalist with a special interest in Southeast Asia, especially the ancient Angkor civilization. His new book, Temple in the Clouds, is an ancient and modern history of Cambodia's astounding Preah Vihear temple, built a thousand years ago atop a 500-meter cliff. Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the temple has in modern times sadly become the focus of a sometimes violent border dispute with Thailand.

His historical novel A Woman of Angkor brings to life the Angkor civilization's 12th Century golden age. Stories in Stone is a non-fiction account of how French linguists recovered Angkor's lost history by learning to read inscriptions found carved into stone at the temples.Watch for his upcoming novel, The Stairway Guide's Daughter, set in the 12th Century at Preah Vihear. And follow him on Instagram.